As the temperature began to rise, so did the anticipation within the Hull KR camp.

The 2018 campaign is creeping ever closer, so there was to be no rest for the wicked in the first full day of the Robins’ warm-weather training.

Double gym sessions, double field sessions, boy it was tough, but the squad could hardly have picked a better setting than Spain when Britain is shivering from the freezing cold.

Much emphasis was placed on tidying up Rovers’ attack on the field following several squandered opportunities against Hull FC last Sunday. Going through the video, KR could have easily posted more points. After lunch, Tim Sheens’ men put it into practice, with the Australian delighted at how the team trained throughout.

Read More

I want to touch more on the aforementioned video session. An onlooker for a part of training we never get to see, I expected to be shown snippets of points of improvement and plaudits for Hull KR’s plays.

Hull KR team meeting in Spain

But little did I expect the intricacy of his analysis. Together with assistants David Hodgson and James Webster, the trio picked up on aspects we journalists frankly don’t even pay attention to. It’s that detailed approach which has held Sheens in fantastic stead throughout his coaching career.

Hull KR team meeting in Spain

With the Robins, he’s continued to shape and mould even the most experienced of players, proving you’re never too old to learn new tricks.

The main focus of this lunchtime’s video session was from the FC win at the weekend. Defensively, Sheens urged his props to get up into the attackers’ faces quickly, especially deep in enemy territory.

Putting the pressure onto Super League opponents in their 20 will be key moving forward and halting as much forward momentum as possible was stressed throughout, led by Webster.

Hull KR team meeting in Spain

When the focus switched to attack, Sheens and Hodgson highlighted the umpteen opportunities handed to them at the KCOM against a youthful Black and Whites outfit.

Read More

Sometimes too keen to force the pass to the nearest man, or holding onto the ball too long and negating the opportunity, it’s those chances which are going to come at some premium by the time Wakefield Trinity roll into town.

My mind was slightly frazzled afterwards, but I’ve learned so much from that 45-minute session that even I could tell you what the crazy play-names mean!

Roll on tomorrow, when it’s the exact same schedule, and KR get down to even more business.